OSCE SUMMIT EXTENDS ITS MISSION IN BOSNIA

LISBON, Dec 3 (Hina) - Member countries of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) at Tuesday's meeting in Lisbon accepted a Declaration which consists of a general declaration and a declaration on a joint model of security for Europe in the 21st century. The summit reached a decision to extend the OSCE mandate in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1997 with the possibility of it being extended for an additional year. The OSCE task in Bosnia-Herzegovina would be the implementation of local elections and supervision over the implementation of the regional arms control agreement. The Declaration calls on all sides in Bosnia-Herzegovina to cooperate with the International Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. The document also expressed concern with the fact that not all tasks from the arms control agreement had been fulfilled. Different initiatives for stimulating cooperation in southeastern Europe were hailed in the document. The attention with which the OSCE was following the process of building democracy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was supported in the Declaration, which stressed that democracy, independent media and free and fair elections were important for stability in the region. The summit also expects the OSCE mission in Kosovo, Sandzak and Vojvodina to continue as soon as possible. (hina) lm mm 031827 MET dec 96